It is now time to switch to a new Money AM football blog as the world cup is now over and we all look to the future.....World cup 2010 is over, Bravo Espana, and Forlan, once again and bring on the new season !.....I never expected the last thread to be such a success...thanks all.... so this new one might go on for years without the need to edit the title...we shall see...

£66 million? If true that makes you an even sadder dickhead than you appear. You need help to get a life. Evertonians are born not made!

dupl

Ronnie Biggs springs to mind and wtf was that ref looking at when we should have had a pen ?????

Been the same all season , gutted.

From My Seat: Cardiff City (H)
By Ken Buckley :: 15/03/2014


Comments (18) jump to end
A crisp sunny afternoon and where better to spend it than Goodison Park to watch the Blues strive for three valuable points that, if nothing else, will keep us more than interested in other teams' scores. We gathered at the Temple of Learning and retired to the Room of Nonsense to disseminate the loss at the Emirates and the chances for a win today. We also enjoyed the company of 20 or so of Cardiff fans and, from their strong rendition of Delilah, they were on a mission of booze, fun and a win. Their contempt for their new owner was marked and they informed us that the true Cardiff fans always wear the Blue. I have much sympathy for them as I mused the thought of a new owner for us dictating that we played in Red.

The friendly banter was good and then time for the walk-up. The amount of fans about suggested a big gate and indeed over 38 thousand were in attendance. At the top of Spellow Lane, in the last house before Goodison Road, there were some paintings depicting many things Blue for sale at reasonable prices. I wondered if any of our American visitors availed themselves of a locally produced memento. The outlets down the strip were doing a roaring trade and the Winslow now appeared to have ‘Door Staff’ replete with a necklace supporting ID. The times they are a changing...

Teams announced and Howard back in goal. This prompted me to wonder why a home game versus a bottom-of-the-table team warranted the first-choice keeper, when an away game at Arsenal, for the chance to win a trophy, didn’t... Modern football management and thinking baffles at times.

The game itself would be one that never really caused any rise in blood pressure but it would have its moments... yet, by the end, the mood of the assembled faithful on leaving the stadium would swing from blood-curdling condemnation to the faint praise of "a win is a win" and "we will have to keep digging them out" — all courtesy of a 93rd-minute miss-hit shot that foxed all.

The half started with us attacking the Park End and we soon gained the upper hand but for all the nice approach work, the final third is still barren territory for us. We do get chances, though, and early doors Mirallas, receiving the ball after good link-up play, measured a curler toward the far post but the keeper pulled off a superb diving save. Then our Belgian got on the end of good link-up between Coleman and Lukaku with the latter’s ball almost putting it on a plate until a sliding well-timed tackle rescued Cardiff. Everton were dominating possession but not getting an end-product, thus giving Cardiff the smell of chances on the counter — one of which saw Howard having to race out and thwart Campbell with an outstretched foot.

Deulofeu, who from the off looked off the pace enough for a fan near me to question his interest in the proceedings so far, made a determined run to get on the end of a fine move that set him up for his shot, only for the excellent keeper Marshall to dive down and across with elastic reactions and palm the ball behind. As well as both players did, I thought that — considering Deulofeu was quite central to the goal — a fiercely struck shot may have benefitted more... Just opinion, though.

The half went on and, due to lack of real goalmouth action, my eyes wandered to what was happening all over the park irrespective of where the ball was. Barry was sitting in and ever ready to either sit in between the centre-backs or move forward to help dictate play. McCarthy was full of running all over the park; when he wasn’t closing down, he was racing to support the attack. Osman seemed to be nominally wide left but mostly tucked inside and play-making. Baines seemed a little lacklustre, with Coleman much the same, leaving Deulofeu, Lukaku and Mirallas as free spirits.

This scenario, I believe, was the reason for our many final-third breakdowns as players seemed unsure of who was doing what. This led to the occasional Cardiff break, leaving our centre-backs too exposed. However, we were holding our own; near the end of the half, we had a shocking tackle on Osman receive only a yellow and then a superb save from that man Marshall as a superb powerful shot from Lukaku was tipped over after a good Blues quick break. Half-time came and went; during the break, the words I heard most were "Same old, same old"...

Still the second half to go and no changes made... but both sides were out of the traps quickly which produced immediate results at both ends. First Cardiff repelled Lukaku at the near post with a good block; then, down the other end, a Campbell strike was saved by the foot of Howard whilst the crowd showed displeasure at the ease with which he got through. You could say the game settled down then, and produced little in the way of anything much more than disappointment, as move after move broke down at the 18-yard line... but at least I thought we were probing and maybe something would turn up; on the hour mark, it did.

At last, a joined up move down the left saw Distin and Baines involved; the latter fed in Deulofeu who slalomed into the box at pace and fired one in that deflected and at last beat the excellent Marshall and nestled in the net. Roars of relief were heard and the faithful reminded the taunting Cardiff fans that "We only sing when we are winning."

Cardiff, now realizing the consequences of defeat, put a spurt on but we seemed more than capable of handling that as we went in search of a second. This was hampered, though, by the manager making a double substitution right after the goal; he took off the scorer plus Mirallas for McGeady and Naismith. The Irishman went wide right and the Scotsman wide left, allowing Osman to go in the hole. The team were adjusting to this when, just ten mins after our goal, we were adjudged to have committed a foul on our right. The kick was delivered in, regulation fashion, and none to high, and the visitors swept the ball home. What a downer, the silence was deafening from the faithful whilst the visiting fans made merry and loudly.

They say teams are always vulnerable right after scoring and today almost backed that up when we went straight into the heart of their defence, Osman curled one at pace that beat the keeper but also the angle of post and bar. It had a draw all over it now as both teams strived in vain to fashion much... but, as 80 mins came up, that man Marshall somehow got to and tipped a powerful deflected shot from Lukaku around the post. If Cardiff go down — "Sign him up", I say.

Then, Cardiff sub Zaha twisted and turned into our box and went down as Distin attempted a block; furious appeals from Cardiff... "Play on" said our Ref, Mr East... "Thank you," said I as Cardiff frustrations reached fever pitch. Four mins added time went up and Cardiff were to get even more frustrated as, 2 mins into time added on, and hoards of Blues left the stadium. Tika-taka now abandoned as "get it up and into the box" prevailed. Third minute of added time reached, more left. The ball hit into the box, Barry got a head to it, and the ball went square toward Coleman, who hit it first time, in mistimed fashion, which completely wrong footed ‘Marvellous Marshall’, and it nestled... Oh, the roar!

And then we had a one-kid pitch invasion. He was soon captured and led off clapping excitedly and what was left of the crowd clapped him back. There was hardly time to kick off again when the whistle went and soon we were all singing If yer know yer 'Istery...

MotM – McCarthy

As always a good day out; whatever is made of the performance, a good three points gained. After our game v West Ham Utd, I said then I thought we would have games very tight until season end — and I still stand by that, the fact being: the team to get the points, no matter the performance, will determine the final table. There are some right tight looking games coming up — not just for us, but all teams... and what some people call 'luck' will decide many of them.

Back to the Room of Nonsense for the inquest and, along with cheese butties, it was the Blues of Everton singing whilst sympathising with the Blues of Cardiff as they contemplated their future through the bottom of a glass. We have promised them we will see off their neighbours next week but, as ever, it won’t be easy... so bring the prayer beads — and don’t leave until that final whistle blows.

One promising observation from today was the display of McGeady when he came on. If he can consistently play like he did today for 90 mins, then he may well turn out to be every bit as good as our manager says he will.

The manager, players and staff have a full week to practice so that they may once again send us home celebrating three points. (I hope!)

See you there to find out... UP THE BLUES

Cruel Dil, your goalie MOM. Hope you don't go down but if you do, can we have first dibs on him :O)

How did the Chosen One get on today?

Cheers Chris watched it on the internet and Wales v Scotland on the tele at same time.

Been same all season . if you were playing Man U , Liverpool etc it would have been a pen and we would have probably won the game. Was so gutted with the 93rd minute winner but hey ho sh*t happens !

We gonna stuff Liverpool next week ... they looked crap today :-)

gf ,if you haven't hung yourself yet .... you should :-)

Liverpool ....mighty impressive again I see.....welsh stuffing next week..(sorry Dil).....

Written this season off Dil, after Liverpool scored went in and got pithed with the lads. Lovely sunday roast followed by trifle and Ice cream.

Clattenburg cock ups - not sending off Rafael, Flanagan, and Gerrard, giving a penalty for the Sturridge dive, sending off Vidic instead of booking the aforementioned forward, not giving a penalty for Johnson's handball - aside :), I have no idea what game Moyes is watching that he is happy to do FA for 65 minutes and makes the first sub circa 75 minutes. RVP is stinking up the place; instead of being taken off at halftime, he plays the whole match. To be fair, since Fulham there has been a glimmer re team selection, but inspiration - tactics and cheerleading - and balls are nowhere to be seen. Moyes seems nice enough as a person, but the job looks a step too far. Closer to the exit.

Chris Carson,

Is that the second time Coleman has scored the winner with a mishit that's floated into a corner of the net?

Cheers,
KidA

KidA they all count, don't care how they go in. For years United scored in Fergie time.

I think the "Chosen One" is doing a great job. Long may it continue. Sure the Everton fans will give him a warm round of applause on Uniteds visit to Goodison on 19th April :O)

(nb providing he lasts that long of course)

Chris Carson,

It wasn't a dig, I thought you'd know who it was against. Never mind.

Cheers,
KidA

KidA - My apologies, get you now :O)

Come on Chris . everyone makes a bad decision ... apparently ref in Man U game was deaf dumb but sure played a mean pin ball !

Uck me they were hammered from first to last minute , we're crap but aint see us play that bad all season.

Chris , Just watched the recording of match of the day back and I don't know where to start on Everton !

If that clown who cost us a well deserved point could shoot straight we wouldn't have lost and that bloody deflection for the first .... geez :-)

All over twitter Everton fans saying we were best supporters that have visited all season and the clapping , cheering and respect shown before the match when we sang "we'll always blue" is much appreciated ... you really don't know how much.

Good luck for the rest of the season.

Cheers mate, hope you stay up.

I don't - and its not a dig at the Cardiff fans but that stupid muppet that owns the club.

Better to see the back of the likes of him

Dil [Send an email to Dil] [View Dil's profile] - 18 Mar 2014 00:37 - 2657 of 2660
Come on Chris . everyone makes a bad decision ... apparently ref in Man U game was deaf dumb but sure played a mean pin ball !

Uck me they were hammered from first to last minute , we're crap but aint see us play that bad all season.

If this is re Manchester United v Liverpool, the 10 minutes when Rooney and Mata swapped were Manchester United's - that is part of the frustration. But yeah, overall it was poor. If it is about something else, apologies for butting in.

On Match Of The Day, somehow it manages to get worse each season; time that could be used to show a true flavour of the games is given to increased pundit waffle, voting, shoddy manager/player interview, and advertising other programmes.

Cheers,
KidA

It's always on too late in the day.....I'm asleep by the time that comes on...